Ode to Windows Application Programming: Chapter 1

Author's note...I have just begun a new chapter in programming--working with Windows Applications. I have a feeling that this will not be the last post to Windows Applications! Stay tuned...



Oh Windows Application! How you hate me!
I have tried to make you work;
Nevertheless, you fail me!
How you refuse to answer my questions
and solve my problems;
How you cause forbidden words to fly!
Oh Windows Application! How you irritate me!
I cannot find the words
to please you!
I cannot find the logic to appease you!
You are ruthless and unforgiving
because you can be!
Oh Windows Application! How you annoy me!
As I try and try to make you like me
you shut me out and refuse my help!
You drive me to an insanity
that I have never reached!
Oh Windows Application! How you deny me!
For I cannot find the correct way to please you;
I cannot go on.

Field Trips with Children...Drive You INSANE!!!!

Today, I played chauffeur to 4 really big boys. "Are we there yet?", "I WANT ICE CREAM! MOMMIE, CAN WE GET ICE CREAM?", and "MOMMIE! MOMMIE!" were screamed at the top of their lungs. I took them to McDonald's to go and play in the play land, but they were too mad at me because I said no ice cream! So, on the way home, I had 4 boys pout and complain. Something you just don't wanna see...

Now granted, these boys are my classmates. We went on a tour of the SCANA data center today. How amazing is the facility! I couldn't believe of all the information that was given to us (I will not disclose any information, so please do not ask) and how exciting it looked! My goal is to work for SCANA. That is what I want to do, so I have my eyes on the prize!

Now, after a stop at one of the world's largest fire hydrants after a quick side trip to show off the other SCANA building and where they are moving from, I must admit that the boys are kinda quiet. I wonder if it's nappy time for them now...I know it is for zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......................

P.S. -- To Verne, Dave, Todd, and Roger: I am very proud of you guys! You didn't bother me in the least. We need to go on more field trips!

"Purpose"

You know, while listening to the Original Broadway Soundtrack from "Avenue Q", I have established that caw-caw, caw-caw, and tookie-tookie do not work(sorry---no more EVOLUTION).

Seriously, I have been listening to Avenue Q to take away the stress and start relaxing after the test we took in class today. So, in typical fashion, I was just doing my work and next thing I know, the song "Purpose" was playing. I stopped for a moment and actually listened to the words--something I've never really done before. I've always enjoyed the Avenue Q classics--"Everyone's a Little Bit Racist", "The Internet is for Porn", and "What Do You Do With a B.A. in English/It Sucks to Be Me"--but because "Purpose" is a slower song, I've really just let it play in the background. Today was different.

The lyrics are---

"Purpose"
Avenue Q: Original Broadway Soundtrack
Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Music and Lyrics
Jeff Whitty, Book

Purpose, it's that little flame,
That lights a fire under your ass.
Purpose, it keeps you going strong
Like a car with a full tank of gas.

Everyone else has a purpose,
So what's mine?
Oh look! Here's a penny!
It's from the year I was born!
It's a sign!

Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

I don't know how I know,
But I'm gonna find my purpose.
I don't know where I'm gonna look,
But I'm gonna find my purpose.
Gotta find out, don't wanna wait!
Got to make sure my life will be great!
Gotta find my purpose,
Before it's too late!

I'm gonna find my purpose!
Could be far, could be near,
Could take a week, a month, a year!
At a job, or smoking grass, maybe at a pottery class
Could it be? Yes it could!!!
Something's coming, something good!

I'm gonna find my purpose!
I'm gonna find my purpose!
I'm gonna find it.
What will it be? Where will it be?
My purpose in life is a mystery!
Gotta find my purpose.
Gotta find me.

(some lyrics omitted to save some space)

Listening to these lyrics, and then typing them into my blog, has really floored me today. Everyday, I go to school and I wonder, "What am I doing? Am I meant to do this? What am I supposed to be doing?" But Lopez, Marx, and Whitty had it right. We are all looking for our purpose.

I think I have found my purpose, for I am currently in school for computer programming. Something I never thought I would do in life in a million years; something I thought I would never be good at. But life has ways of throwing little hints to us, and if I never would have hurt my back, I would have never been granted this opportunity to redo my whole career, my whole outlook in life. Going back to school to be a programmer is an opportunity, an opportunity I didn't think I would enjoy.

Today, I cannot imagine doing anything in a career except computer programming. I have found my purpose. Fate caused a back injury that provided the entry into a wonderful new career.

Or actually, it found me.

And for all the stressors we have in life today, remember...

...Everything is only FOR NOW!!! --Avenue Q, "For Now"

The Anticipation Builds...

How many more days does one have to wait until the beginning of football season? Today is July 27th. 38 more days until South Carolina opens one highly anticipated season at North Carolina State. I am currently jonesing for some football...

That's all I have to say today! Not too much going on...

Just something I needed to say....I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!!!! He's the greatest in the world. He puts up with my crazy behind. I love you, Joe!!!!

And one more thing...how can someone be so misleading? I don't understand...

Minivans, Employee Classes, and Diet Mountain Dew

If I had to summarize my week into one word, it would be:


*insert expletive here--your choice*.

No, kidding aside, I have had one of the most stressful weeks I have experienced in the past few months. I wish I could implant my gallbladder back. The pain and suffering of the gallbladder was NOTHING compared to the stress! And I thought the after effects of the surgery was bad...

Started this week on a bad note. My car decided it wanted to act up. I've had problems with it lately and Bertha the Big Blue Whale wanted to break up with me (or break apart on me, whichever you choose). So, amidst the phone calls back and forth to dealers to find me something I could get into easier, put my rolling walker in without breaking handles and getting it stuck, and something much more reliable, I am now the new owner of a Minivan. Yes, a Minivan. I understand I am 30 years old, and it is probably time for me to grow up, but I am not a soccer mom NOR am I a parent. But after 24 hours of owning the minivan, I have learned that I am very pleased with it! In my old car, I would have already burned through three-quarters of a tank of gas(yes, Bertha, was a gas guzzler), but after 150 miles on one-quarter, I have fallen in love with my minivan. So let me be the first to introduce LuAnn the Minivan...Let's hope for many more years together!

Okay, Employee Classes. Today we were given an assignment to work on Employee Classes in VB. I am now taking a two day sabbatical from VB. As of this point, NO MORE VB THIS WEEKEND!

Diet Mountain Dew is God's Gift to Programmers! I love Diet Mountain Dew! That's all!

Hope you all have a great weekend! More to blog on Monday!

"The Frayed Ends of Sanity"

Metallica must have known something about computer programming. Hence, the song title "The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" speaks for thousands of computer programmers throughout the world.

Let's analyze this:

Chorus:

Old Habits Reappear
Fighting the Fear of Fear
Growing Conspiracy
Everyone's After Me
Frayed Ends of Sanity
Hear them Calling
Hear them Calling Me

Okay, line 1 of the chorus, "Old Habits Reappear", signifies habits from other programming languages that cannot be broken. For example, when one learns COBOL first, then object-oriented programming languages, he/she has a tendency to program in a structured way; everything has to be linear and in a particular structure. Line 2, "Fighting the Fear of Fear", concludes that programmers are always fighting the fear(logic) of the fear of the programs(syntax). Most all programmers feel that programming languages have a "Growing Conspiracy"--if the programming language is forever changing, programmers feel that it is Microsoft's Fault. And since all programmers know that Microsoft owns EVERYTHING that has to do with programming (or at least most of it), this in turn brings us to "Everyone's After Me" because Microsoft is always finding ways to track programmers by sending Error Reports to them. At the end of the day, all programmers feel "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" because of all the pressures of syntax and logic. I "Hear them Calling, Hear them Calling Me"....

So, I have established that Metallica's song, "The Frayed Ends of Sanity", can relate to computer programming. I know (dramatic pause for effect) it's a stretch, and I thank James, Lars, Kirk, and Rob (Jason and Cliff, as well) for this wonderful insight.

Since "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" are now calling, I am now going to be "Welcome[d] Home" to the "Sanitarium". Thanks to my pal Vern for his comment yesterday, for it was the inspiration to today's post!

Computer Programming...A Student's Praise!

Diamonds are Forever!!!

Module Diamond

Sub Main()
Dim intSpace As Integer = 0
Dim intCounter As Integer = 0
Dim strAsterisk As String = "*"
Dim strSpace As String = " "
Dim intLine As Integer = 1

Do Until intLine > 9
Select Case intLine
Case 1, 9
For intSpace = 1 To 5 Step 1
Console.Write(strSpace)
Next
For intCounter = 1 To 1 Step 1
Console.Write(strAsterisk)
Next
Case 2, 8
For intSpace = 1 To 4 Step 1
Console.Write(strSpace)
Next
For intCounter = 1 To 3 Step 1
Console.Write(strAsterisk)
Next
Case 3, 7
For intSpace = 1 To 3 Step 1
Console.Write(strSpace)
Next
For intCounter = 1 To 5 Step 1
Console.Write(strAsterisk)
Next
Case 4, 6
For intSpace = 1 To 2 Step 1
Console.Write(strSpace)
Next
For intCounter = 1 To 7 Step 1
Console.Write(strAsterisk)
Next
Case 5
For intSpace = 1 To 1
Console.Write(strSpace)
Next
For intCounter = 1 To 9
Console.Write(strAsterisk)
Next
End Select
Console.Write(ControlChars.NewLine)
intLine = intLine + 1
Loop
End Sub
End Module

Oh Visual Basic! How you care for me!
Your syntax is beautiful; your logic invigorating!
How wonderful your words, your punctuation, your way;
How magnificent your ability!
Oh Visual Basic! The love you shower me in!
For you alone can love and hate;
For you alone possess good and evil;
For you alone give joy and sorrow.
Oh Visual Basic! Forgiveness you give and receive!
I am indebted to you today!
The diamond you have given me surpasses
The life you have sucked out of me!
Oh Visual Basic! Today with you I am content!
Lasting thoughts of pleasure throughout my mind give me peace.

Computer Programming...A Student's Lament

Module WoeIsMe

Sub Main()

Dim strWoe as String = "Woe"
Dim strIs as String = "Is"
Dim strMe as String = "Me."

Console.WriteLine(strWoe & " " & strIs & " " & strMe)

End Sub
End Module

Oh Visual Basic! How you torment me!
I cannot see into the dark depths of your syntax
Nor can I not see into the logic that enlightens you!
Will you open your friendly soul to this tormented being
Or will you find more ways to cruely provoke this innocent mind?
I want to find the strength you possess
I need to learn your ways, your needs, your wants...
Oh Visual Basic! Torment me you must!
Find me at the board writing your words and commandments!
The screen glows, the words appear, the compiler hums,
the program dies a slow, horrendous death and ceases to exist.
How can you forgive me for the hell I put you through daily!
Oh Visual Basic, please!
Grant me the reprieve my mind needs to sleep in peace.

Woe is Me.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Yesterday, I witnessed the most depressing movie I think I have ever seen. Dumbledore is dead.

Yes, I am an avid adventurist in a world of fantasy. I engulf myself in a world where anything can happen, losing all concepts of reality. I found that I have developed a familiarity with the characters of Harry Potter, and when Dumbledore was killed, I lost it. It was as if my own ecclectic ol' uncle had been murdered! Yes, I cried. I'm a girl for crying out loud!!!

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The movie itself is very mature and the subject matter relates to more adults than children. I think the PG rating was a little too low, considering there were several underlying issues that should not have been placed around children. But for adults, it was perfect.

Several key scenes from the book were deleted. Where was Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's Wedding? Where was the scene in which the new Minister of Magic met with the Prime Minister of Britian? Matter of fact, where was the Ministry of Magic (except for the snippet at the beginning) during this entire movie? Where were the several important memories of Tom Riddle, such as how he got the ring? The House Horcruxes? DUMBLEDORE'S FUNERAL???And for crying out loud, when Fawkes flew in to the sunset at the end of the movie, WHY DIDN'T HE BURN TO ASHES??? This was key in the book!!!

Now that I am done venting, I can understand why these were cut out. Stupid Hollywood millionaires saying, "You don't have time for key scenes from the book. So we will just pick a handful of storylines and go on that." But for what the movie did show, it was extremely well done.

I really hope Dumbledore's Funeral is at the beginning of movie #7.1.

RIP Albus Dumbledore RIP